The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 574

exultation." But, for spiritual readers, there milst be a second and further meaning, for the language too well suits that time when "the blind saw, the lame walked, the lepers were cleaneed, the cleo.f heard, and the dead were raised." Reading the mission of IJhriet from this prophecy as a text, we note- I. CHRIST REMOVING MEN'S DISABILITIEB. All are typified in these failures of the senses of sight, hearing, walking, and speaking. Some of the human disabilities are hereditary, others a.re brought on by men's own negligences or wilfulnesses. But this ie to be specially noticed, they are all the direct products and results of Bin. And Christ only designed to impress on men the greatness of his work as Redeemer from sin, by showing them how vigorously he would deal with all sin's consequences. II. CHRIST GIVING LIFE TO THE DEAD. Death is the supreme, and apparently resist- less triumph of sin. Before it man stands utterly hopeless. But Christ does not. He speaks, and Lazarus comes forth, bound with the grave-clothes. He even submits himself to the worst that death can do, and then breaks the bars of bis prison-house asunder. There is nothing he cannot do for us. III. CHRIST REVEALING GoD's WORK IN SOULS. We only read our Lord's life aright when we see it to be illustration of permanent spiritual facts. God is always coming and saving men. He has always been coming and saving men. Prophets, by their miracles (such as Elisha's), in part illustrated God's soul-saving work; but the "Lord Jes'J.s gives the full, sublime, ever-suggestive illustration." God gives life from the "death of trespasses and sins." God removes the soul-disabilities which sin has brought in its train. This opens up the consideration of our Lord's position as Mediator, doing, for God, his part of this great work in souls; and further of the mission of the Spirit, as Comforter, Inspirer, and Teacher. Verily God works wonders of grace in the souls of men.-R. T. Ver. 8.-The Lord's highway. Under the figure of deliverance from Assy1'ia and Babylon the times of Messiah are foreshadowed. From the previous verses we get suggestions of bis miracles of healing, and assurances that he will supply grace to men like abundant fountains in thirsty places. The figure of a "WRY " was even used by Christ himself. He said, "I am the V'vay "-the way to the Father; the way of salva- tion; the way of holiness; the way to glory, "bringing many sons unto glory." Spiritualizing the way described in this text, we may note- I. THE HIGHWAY OP SALVATION IS A RAISED WAY. A made way; one actually lifted up, levelled, prepared. '!'bis is the idea in the Hebrew word. We must distinguish between the ordinary Easteru path, a mere track in the sand or the soil, and the road ~arefully made for a royal progress, valleys raised, mountains levelled, stones removed. Such a road is Christ's way of life and salvation for us. All hindrances are taken out of the way, and a plain path is laid before our feet. There are some points of view from which the way of life appears as a " strait gate" opening on to a na1Tow path. But from other points of view it is a broad, open road, which none can mistake. This may lead to consideration of the work of the Lord Jesus which was, as it were, the making of the way of life. II. THE HIGHWAY OF SALVATION IS A HOLY WAY. Thore is no possibility of our treading it with the uncleanness of wilrul sin, kept sin, upon us. Sinners may tread it, but they must be penitent sinners. And a penitent ma.n, so far as heart and purpose are concerned, is a holy man. Imperfect saints may tread it, but only if their heart is ~et on holiness. Only if they are " clean every whit," but needing to "wash their feet." III. THE HIGHWAY OF SALVATION IS A BIMl'LE WAY, "The wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein." The difficulties we make; they are not really in the way. The way of salvation seems to wise people full of mystery, yet it is grasped by the wayfar- ing, the fool, the child. None need miss the way, for it is thoroughly well fitted with directions and guide-posts. We may blind ourselves, and refuse to see them. We may put obstacles in our own path. The one great obstacle takes many forms. What we really want is to keep our wilfulness; to make a way of our own; to get God to save us on our own terms. Thore is the highway open right before us, and we persist in looking this way and that, if so be we may find any way but Christ'$ way of penitence ud faith.-R. T. JSAIAII, 2 p  5i8 THE 1300K OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [cu. xxxv. 1-10,